"Our top story this morning...Police have seized documents at the Landgraab Corporation building in the ongoing investigation into fraud and murder allegations connected to that company. There have been no arrests so far but police say that given the strength of the evidence they have so far it won't be long before some, or more, people in the company will be arrested. Police also refuse to confirm or deny rumours that members of the Landgraab family themselves will be taken into custody..."
"Suzy, darling...come and see this! It's all happening with the Landgraabs!" said Neil
She walked over to the sofa where he was sitting, watching the TV.
"Jeremy..." she said, softly.
"What's that?" asked Neil.
"Jeremy. He must have found something really incriminating. This is huge...when they say 'murder' that must relate to the attempts on Madelyn Buchanan's life and that murder case Action is working on. That's going to drag Malcolm Landgraab into the investigation. Wow. This is it, Neil, the unravelling of all that family has been doing."
"And your article is going to hit the newsstands any day now..." he said, looking knowingly at her.
"The significance isn't lost on me..." she replied. "I might get called in to be a witness"
At that moment the telephone rang. "That might be the D.A. now..." said Neil, half joking. Suzy went to pick it up; she had a knot in her stomach through nerves."Hello...Suzy Humphries speaking" she said.
"Hey, Suzy...it's Alan Cuffe here..." said the voice at the other end of the line. Suzy let out a sigh of relief that it was Alan and not the authorities.
"Alan, nice to hear from you, it's been ages since we last spoke."
"It has, Suzy; far too long. Say, have you got some free time today to drop round the mansion? I want to talk with you about...recent developments. I don't want to say more over the phone, you never know who's listening."
"Erm...I'm due in the office today but I can swing by your place this morning. Sure."
"Great. See you then." and he rung off. Suzy turned to Neil and shrugged her shoulders.
"That was Alan Cuffe of all people" she said. "Wants to see me about 'recent developments'"
"How did he sound?" asked Neil.
"Quite positive, almost happy." she replied.
"Could be a good sign...another who's happy that the Landgraabs are getting their just desserts." he said, turning back to watch the news.
Suzy grabbed her handbag and house keys and kissed Neil just before we left. "I'll see you later, darling. I'll head straight to Alan's and then to work." she said.
She rang the doorbell but instead of a butler appearing at the door it was Alan Cuffe himself. He was smiling and seemed genuinely pleased to see Suzy.
"Suzy, wonderful to see you, just wonderful. Come inside...actually, let's go out the back to the garden because it's a beautiful day" he said, welcoming her enthusiastically.
"I see you're in fine spirits, Alan" she noted.
"I am feeling very well thank you. As you may have heard I had to go into a private hospital to undergo some treatment brought about by overwork, stress and some fever the name of which I can't pronounce. Ha-ha. And Madelyn and the Kittens have been taking very good care of me in the interim."
"I bet they have..." said Suzy, knowingly. There's nothing Alan loved more than to have all his Lothario Kittens, in their skimpy cat outfits, fawning all over him.
"So I've heard..." said Suzy. During her research into Malcolm Landgraab, Madelyn's name was often mentioned in relation to drug cultivation and sales. It made sense that she 'grew her own'. "It's lovely out here, Alan, and I can see a painting in progress on that easel. Do you paint?"
"I do. Something I've taken up recently in order to help my state of mind. I know your husband is a very talented artist who has found some success."
"Neil is so gifted as a painter...and, yes, his work is now selling enough that he was able to quit his day job. He paints mainly landscapes...that view over the lake and the mountains here must provide plenty of inspiration for painting."
"I paint mainly nudes" he said. Suzy was not at all surprised.
"Did you want to see me about something specific, Alan?" Suzy asked.
"Yes. As you know I own a significant stake in your magazine, Hey Wow. When your article about the Landgraabs was read by the editorial board there were....shall we say 'mixed' feelings about whether to publish it or not. The key issue in the sceptics minds were what the legal ramifications for the magazine would be if the Landgraabs sued."
"I can assure you, and the editorial board, that everything I wrote in that article has a credible source." said Suzy.
"I'm sure it does, Suzy. That's why I'm confident the magazine would win if it went to court. I think the Landgraabs have overstepped the mark in trying to silence me and my close associates and the city would be better off if they had their wings clipped. That is why I'm going to personally foot the bill for the legal defence of the magazine...and you."
Suzy was taken aback and didn't respond immediately. Eventually she managed to say "that's very generous of you, Alan."
At that moment Madelyn Buchanan appeared and she too seemed happy to see Suzy.
"I'm so glad you were able to come" she said. "As you can see, Alan and myself are entirely at ease with...recent developments." she said, trying to sound cryptic but Suzy knew she was referring to the troubles the Landgraabs were currently going through.
"Have you spoken with Detective Action, Madelyn, about his recent investigations?" asked Suzy.
"That there have been two attempts on my life, specifically? Yes he has. Sadly, we can't rest easy until this McGregor woman is behind bars but at least her paymaster might soon be." replied Madelyn.
"The article Suzy wrote is damning evidence against Malcolm, that's for sure" said Alan.
Madelyn looked at Alan and nodded approvingly. There was something in her expression and body language that outwardly seemed calm but betrayed an underlying anxiousness as well. You're still concealing something, Madelyn... Suzy thought.
She also suspected that Alan was unaware of Madelyn's secret that she was holding back. She may be his right hand woman, a confidant and much of the reason why the Lothario company was a success but whereas she knew all of his life, he had still much to discover about hers...
Suzy didn't want to dig deeper at this stage. Alan's offer of legal protection if the Landgraabs threatened to sue was very generous and his influence in getting her article to be published couldn't be understated. To now dig up dirt about the goings on of his personal assistant would be ungenerous of her after Alan had been so helpful. Unprofessional conduct for a journalist? Maybe. But Suzy felt that Madelyn's secrets didn't have the same amount of maliciousness and destructiveness of the Landgraabs'.
"Well, I must be getting to the office now. Alan, Madelyn, thank you so much for your hospitality and generosity. Goodbye."
Within the hour Suzy had arrived at the offices of Hey, Wow! and found a flurry of activity there. Photographers, advertising reps, printers, staff writers and about a half a dozen gophers were all scurrying around the place. One of the sub-editors called Suzy into his office the moment she arrived.
"Suzy, sit down, I have to brief you on what's going on today" he said, motioning towards the sofa opposite his desk.
"What's up?" she replied as she sat down.
"You. You're what's up"
"What's going on? It seems like everyone is on panic stations" she said.
"They are. It seems your article is causing a stir and the issue's only just hit the news stands. We've got press from all the major newspapers and TV networks pestering us for a comment and...an interview with you."
"Wow." she said, shocked.
"Yeah, 'wow' just about describes it. Now the editor has said that you're not to do any interviews until we've checked things through with our legal department first. You're to lie low here, in the office, until it's time to go home. You don't answer the phone, you're not available and we'll bring lunch to you so you're not ambushed by reporters if you go out."
"So what am I supposed to do in the office all day?" she asked.
"You were hired as a fashion journalist...do some fashion journalism for a change!" he said and with a wave of his hand he dismissed her from his office.
As she went back to her desk she saw Gillian, a teenage aspiring model, parading around the photo studio. A few months ago Suzy had provided her with contacts in the fashion industry in exchange for information about Malcolm Landgraab. It seemed Gillian had put those contacts to good use because she was here modelling clothes for the in-house stylist.
"OK...give me more, sweetheart! Give me your left! Now your right! Turn and look over the shoulder! Look up! Look down! Great! I'm loving it! Now I'm spent...OK, Gillian, take 5. Sharon, I want my coffee now! SHARON!" Today's photographer had a voice that bellowed throughout the office and Suzy wondered if he would end up shattering a window. Gillian stepped away from the backdrop and lights and came over to greet Suzy.
"Suzy! Hi there!" she said with a big smile all over her face.
"Gillian, you're looking great. How's this gig going?" Suzy replied, looking all around the photo studio.
"Oh this is the best! I'm going to feature in next month's issue! Suzy, thank you so, so much for giving me a start in my dream job!"
"That's alright. You've taken to it well"
"Gillian, love, we need you in the next outfit: Number 6" called out the photographer.
"Oops, that's me! Gotta go!" said Gillian to Suzy.
"Well, I'm meant to help out here so I'll be hanging around. See you after you've changed.
"OK, give us more attitude, Gillian...challenge the camera...defy it!" said Suzy, trying to coax a particular look out of her. "That's it! That's what we're looking for!"
"OK, Suz, I've finished the roll" said the photographer.
"Perfect, Gillian, you're a natural." said Suzy.
When the work day ended, Suzy went to leave the office building by the main front door but she could see that there were reporters out the front, presumably there to try and doorstop her with questions about her article. She was worried and hesitated about going out through that door as other work colleagues were pestered by the reporters as they left.
There was a noise behind her. "Psst!" Suzy looked around and saw Neil standing at the other end of the reception lobby. "Suzy...this way, we'll get you out via the loading bay!" he said in a loud whisper. She didn't hesitate to take him up on the offer of escape.
"Neil, what are you doing here?" she asked as he maintained a 5 foot lead on her, checking left and right to see the coast was clear.
"The TV news has been running a LOT of stories about the Landgraabs and you made the midday news. I knew the press would be down here like a pack of wolves trying to catch a wounded deer so I thought I'd act as your bodyguard."
"It's greatly appreciated, love!" she said, admiringly.
"I say we don't head straight home; the press are probably camped out there as well. We need to lie low for a few hours, go somewhere where they'd never think of finding us..." said Neil.
"Do you have anywhere specific in mind?" asked Suzy.
"The Romance Festival!" he declared.
"This is a great idea...no press and only a handful of middle aged couples; as it always is. Absolutely the worst place for a single person under the age of 40 to meet another single person." said Suzy, giving Neil a kiss out of appreciation for his concern for her and quick thinking.
"Hey, we met at the Romance Festival" He protested.
"Oh yeah...so we did. But how random was that?"
"Not random...providence!"
They got some exotic food from a vending stall and sat down to eat and discuss things.
"The article gets published tomorrow..." said Suzy.
"Great publicity for Hey, Wow...and you of course. Are you ready?" asked Neil.
"I've been ready for months now. The more I've learned since the beginning of the year, the more I've been horrified by what that family has done...not just recently, but for the last 150 years. But I feel I've barely scratched the surface in this investigation."
"More about the Landgraabs? We still don't know what's underneath that mansion nor what Gregory Landgraab's role in it all was."
"Not just that...the book alludes to dark secrets of the Feng family. Once the fallout from the Landgraab article settles you can be sure two smart cooklies like Lily and Victor Feng will have their guards up."
"That's for another day to think about..." said Neil, raising his glass in cheers. "Hey, there's the Goths over there and...do my eyes deceive me? They're smiling and having a good time!"
"They are smiling! I've never seen Mortimer smile before and I've seen him twice and the Humour and Hijinks festival where he did not even crack a grin. I wonder what they're so happy about?"
"A rival gone? Or at least going?" suggested Neil.
Mortimer noticed Suzy and Neil and he looked at them both. He just stared for two seconds and then smiled, nodding at the pair. Suzy nodded back in acknowledgement.
"I think you maybe right, Neil" she said.
